Ancho chile applesauce

I went apple picking in Connecticut with my mom last weekend. It wasn’t the first time I’d picked apples—we have apple trees at the family farm and every August they need to be harvested. (Though this year, some creature ate all the apples so there weren’t any for us to eat.) But it was the first time I’d been apple picking in New England.

When we arrived at the farm, I was struck by how the air was fragrant with apples, made prominent by the recent rains. My mom said, “I wish there was a way to photograph this smell so I could keep it with me forever.”

And everyone was so happy! The orchards were filled with teenagers, young families, grandparents and little kids, with nary a frown to be found. While ostensibly, apple picking could be construed as work, it’s definitely joyful work. Is it because apples are so round and cute? Or is it because apples are the hallmark of a new season? I don’t know, but having pulled vegetables out of the ground and plucked apples from trees, I can attest from personal experience that apple picking is definitely the superior farm task.

My mom was in Connecticut for a job interview. This is a very important job that I hope she gets, but at the same time I have mixed feelings about it as it would mean she would have to move away from Texas. And as my brother and dad have moved away from Texas, too, I told her that I just might have to move back home so someone in our immediate family would still live there. Of course, this would be highly ironic since if she does move to Connecticut she will only be a train ride away. She wasn’t pleased with this bit of information. When you live in New York City, you have very limited storage space. My mom has been gracious enough to store both a large trunk filled with all sorts of grade-school mementoes (photos, yearbooks and old papers) and my library of children’s books ever since I moved out the house many, many years ago. But she told me this weekend that if she got the job that I’d have to reclaim these items as she would probably downsize. I was speechless—where would I put all this stuff?

As you can probably gather, I’m going through a bit of a crisis by her possible move. OK, so it’s not really a serious crisis—I just have issues with change, even if it’s for the best. But no matter, I needed some solace from all this news.

If my mom moves to Connecticut, one of the books I will be reintroducing into my library is an old childhood favorite, “Rain Makes Applesauce.” But despite my love for this book, for some reason I’d never made applesauce.

When I returned home, I took a few of my apples and threw them in a pot with some spices, ancho chile powder and lemon zest. For a first-time attempt, it was pretty darn good. And while I’m a bit anxious not knowing how this Connecticut story will end, at least as I ate my applesauce I felt content and warm.

You can serve the applesauce as a side dish or as a condiment. (It’s terrific on pancakes). And this spicy applesauce cake would work well with it, too.

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Ancho chile applesauce

Servings6

AuthorLisa Fain

Ingredients

1 1/2poundsred baking apples, about 4, peeled, cored, and diced

1teaspoonancho chile powder

1teaspoonground cinnamon

1/4teaspoonground nutmeg

1/4teaspoonground cloves

1teaspoonlemon zest

1/2cupof water

1/4teaspoonkosher salt

1/4teaspoonvanilla extract

1/2cupbrown sugar

1/4cupwhite sugar

Pinchcayenne

Instructions

Place the apples, ancho chile powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lemon zest and water in a pot, and cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

After about half an hour, the apples should be cooked down to almost mush. Stir in the sugars, vanilla, cayenne, and salt and cook on low for 5 minutes. Serve warm or cold. Will keep refrigerated for 1 week.

Recipe Notes

If you use really sweet apples, such as Honeycrisp, Fujis or Galas, you might find you don’t need as much sugar. I used more-tart Winesap and Liberty apples, which is why I used this amount of sugar.

I love your blog, and even though I live in Texas, I've rarely had to make a lot of the things you write about since I can get them here without having to expend any effort at all. But I'm branching out. I've recently tackled chicharrones and marranitos. Thanks to your blog, I feel I must try molletes (which I'd never heard of, but which sound delicious). I think I might even make bolillos!

I love going apple picking, and it makes living in Michigan almost enjoyable. I've already been 3 times this season, and have made several batches of applesauce. I've never thought to add chile powder, though, and I can't wait to try it next time.

Have made applesauce many times, but never added ancho chile powder. What a great idea! Can't wait to try it… if only I had the benefit of freshly-picked apples. Gonna have to get 'em at the old HEB. Thanks for the inspiration and good luck with your storage crisis.

Lisa, I've been mulling the idea of making applesauce ever since I saw the first apple drop from the trees. This post has inspired me to proceed.I've got one question, in your list of ingredients you make mention of cayenne pepper. When in the preparation of the sauce do you add that to the pot? I'm willing to assume that it goes in with the ancho chili but just want to make sure…My plan is to not only make enough to serve 4 to 6 but I hope to put away several jars for the winter. I'll process according to normal canned applesauce recipes unless someone warns me otherwise. Love your creative spirit.

home made apple sauce is the best! Try it still warm on top of vanilla ice cream. And if you own a food mill, you don't need to bother with peeling the apples, just run them through one of those six-slice apple slicer/corer thingys and then you can run the cooked apple sauce through the food mill to strain out the peels and mush up the last bits of apple. I've never tried the ancho chile powder, but I will have to give it a go!

Wow. We are heading into Spring here in Australia, so I'll have to save this one for next year when it's apple season again. In the meantime, I'm quite concerned about your trunk of stuff. I've got more than a trunk of stuff at my Mom's place back in Texas and if she decided to downsize, how the heck would I get all that stuff to Australia (where houses, like mine, have very little storage). I totally understand your dilemma.

For my fellow A-Towners, Sprouts and Newflower Farmer's Market have been having some awesome sales on apples. Thanks Lisa for this idea! Your recipes are always a smash hit in this Austinite's household and beyond. Your DP sauce is totally going to be Christmas gifts for family and friends. Some day I hope to share something in return with you. Cheers, and mucho good luck to your mama!

My grandma made applesauce when I was little but I seem to remember her having some fancy machine, so I had thoughtlessly put it in my "I need fancy equipment to cook" pile. No longer! Now if I can just convince the bf to stop at an orchard on our NE trip next weekend…

Wow — I *love* this idea! (Also: Love your blog, I've been a lurker for maybe a year now.) I live in Mexico, so I think it might be easier for me to find dried ancho chiles, rather than ancho chile powder. Do you think that would work, if I zap it in a food processor or blender?

Great sounding recipe! My grandmother always served a batch of fried apples with every meal. I will try using your spices for my fried apple recipe. Should be delicious!

Keep us posted on your mom. I know the feelings you are having. I am the "token" Texas in my family and I sure wish I had some relatives back there!Luckily I do still have a lot of friends who stayed put!

We discovered the book "Rain makes Applesauce" almost 22 years ago. It was our son's favorite to check out from the local library! To this day when it rains, or we make or eat applesauce I have to say "and rain makes applesauce, oh you're just talking silly talk". Love the book! Thanks for the helping me remember some great memories. I think I'll got to Amazon and order it for my two new nephews!

Ancho chile in applesauce? What a wonderful idea! I made 10 pounds of apples into a version of my grandmother's applesauce this weekend — unsweetened, with tart apples from our local orchard. But now I'm thinking of another few pounds, of applesauce that's a bit more, well, Texan.

As a Texan who grew up in Western Massachusetts near an apple orchard, this recipe really warms my heart. Waiting for this weekend's cold front to turn the stove back on to make this. I am a new reader of your blog and a big fan.

Hi Lisa, Native Texan here.I just noticed your link at Robbie's UrbanGrounds.com blog.J. and I lived outside TX for only 4 months back in 1985 but I swore that if I ever lived outside TX again I would have a big TX flag hanging somewhere inside. I would not leave the state without one again. I don't know if that would help or not.🙂Picking apples and the air smelling like apples sounds wonderful !

Well it did occur to me that if everyone in your family had moved out of Texas, then you would really be a Homesick Texan (hope that doesn't make you feel worse!) I think it might be very nice to have your mom so close. Love the applesauce too!

Serve mine over a pork chop please! Wow – what an ironic story about your mom. I'm in Fredericksburg right now and the weather is gorgeous. My sisters and I ate at Rather Sweet yesterday – SO good. Good luck with your decision Lisa – I know I will be crying on the plane ride back to NY next week:(

Lo–I bet technology will indeed advance one day to help us capture smells, which will be awesome!

Kelsey B.–You are so correct. I would adore having my family more close.

Amy E.–Welcome! And a cold front is a perfect time to turn on the stove and start cooking. I love this time of year for that reason alone!

SB–I have a Texas map but not a flag–I should probably get one! I reckon it would help!

Kalyn–I agree. Mom being close would be very cool. And it's not like I don't still have a ton of family still in Texas. I reckon it's just my immediate family no longer being there that sort of freaks me out.

Haberogal–I don't know Rascally Cake. Will have to look that one up and see how gross the recipe is!

Hagan–Indeed, I am selfish! And yes, having Mom only a train ride away would be very, very wonderful. Thanks for putting it all in perspective!

Miss Meat and Potatoes–Have a blast in Fredericksburg! And I hear you on the crying front, but we do live in a pretty cool place so it's not ALL bad!

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